Scholarships
Our wide range of scholarships allow you to study and grow at Aotearoa New Zealand’s specialist land-based university, while covering all or some of your tuition fees and/or living costs.
Scholarship options
We award scholarships to both domestic and international students according to a range of criteria. These include (but aren’t limited to):
- Academic grades or achievement
- Personal qualities
- Leadership potential
- Where you live
- Your chosen course of study
- Sporting potential
Lincoln University Flagship Scholarships
Tihi Kahuraki is our premier scholarship for Māori. It can be translated as "being at the pinnacle or summit". If you are awarded this prestigious scholarship, you will receive tailored mentoring throughout your study.
In return, we expect that you will be actively engaged in Te Awhioraki – the Māori Student Association - and a regular participant in other Māori activities and wānaka on-campus. You’re also encouraged to become involved in projects with your whānau, hapū or iwi.
To be eligible, you need to submit:
- A two-minute video demonstrating your involvement in whānau, hapū or community activities
- A list outlining your leadership in projects (mahika kai, marae, hapū, whenua, kapa haka, te reo or mana korero) environmental or other culturally significant activities
- Two references (character plus academic).
Scholarship value: Up to $19,000 per year to cover on-campus accommodation costs (limited to $12,000 in any one year) and tuition fees (limited to $7,000 per year) for three years of study.
Applications close 15 August and 31 March.
You can find out more about this scholarship here.
Tihi Kahuraki is a scholarship that I feel honoured to have because it's relatively new and is only available to a select number of students. The $19,000 relieves the financial stress and lets me focus on my studies.
Harris Moana
Ngāti Maniapoto
This scholarship supports Pasifika students entering their first year of undergraduate study who show strong leadership and engagement in their community.
Pasifika Excellence Scholar will be expected to be actively engaged in the Lincoln University Pacific Island Student Association (LUPISA) and to be part of Pasifika events and activities on campus.
It is also expected that applicants are already engaged in projects or activities in their communities.
To be eligible, you will be required to submit:
- A two-minute video demonstrating your involvement and engagement in your community
- A written list outlining your community leadership describing projects that may include language revitalisation, indigenous food practices, church activities or other areas of relevance
- Two references (character plus academic).
Scholarship value: Up to $19,000 per year to contribute towards on-campus accommodation costs and tuition fees for three years of study.
Applications close 15 August and 31 March
You can find out more about this scholarship here.
These scholarships are offered to students of high academic calibre.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Be new to Lincoln University
- Have gained NCEA level 1 and 2 with Excellence endorsement (or equivalent).
To accept a conditional offer, you must receive NCEA Level 3 with Excellence endorsement plus University Entrance (or equivalent) before the start of semester 1.
Scholarship value: $6,000 towards tuition fees plus $4,000 towards living expenses during the duration of your degree whilst maintaining a B+ average.
Applications close 15 August.
More on this scholarship can be found here.
The Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship for Excellence has been an amazing help for my studies. It has made this year a lot easier in terms of financial savings and has motivated me to keep doing my best in all my work. It's truly gratifying to be awarded this scholarship and I'm always thankful for it.
Marion Dumaine
Studying the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Leaders of the future will be asked to solve increasingly complex problems in environmental, social and economic fields. At Lincoln University, we’re committed to growing the next generations of well-rounded, open-minded and conscious professionals capable of leading wisely in challenging times.
The aim of our Future Leader Scholarship is to grow leaders for the future, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
As part of the Lincoln experience, we grow our scholars’ capability and resilience to balance the tensions inherent in leadership roles. This also encompasses managing their own wellbeing and the ability to make meaningful decisions regarding their career at all stages.
If you’re awarded a Future Leader Scholarship, in addition to completing your degree, your commitments will include:
- Weekly meetings for all Future Leader scholars
- Regular leadership development workshops
- Future Leader group projects focused on doing good for others
- Active leadership roles in campus clubs and committees
- Representing Lincoln University at marketing and student events
- Demonstrating that you’re able to challenge established leadership perceptions.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Ideally have NCEA Level 2 endorsed with Merit
- Submit a two-minute video describing what you think are the characteristics and behaviours of a good leader
- Obtain two references using the templated reports on the scholarship page. One Character Report from someone in the community, church, work etc, plus an Academic Report from school.
- If you are offered a conditional scholarship, you must achieve NCEA Level 3 plus University Entrance
- We accept applications from students undertaking a gap year after leaving school.
Scholarship value: $6,000 towards tuition fees or accommodation costs in your first year of study. You’re able to re-apply in subsequent years of study.
Applications close 15 August.
More information on this scholarship can be found here.
On the programme, you accomplish so much that has both social and personal impact. It provided me with a fantastic foundation for job applications, and what I learnt about myself helped me secure a dream job. It helped me learn what is important to me and how I can use those beliefs to make positive change.
Ella Sutherland
Lincoln alumna and consultant at Deloitte Private
Our sports scholarship has developed the talents, perseverance and character of some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most successful athletes.
The comprehensive programme combines academic study with tailored expansion and development of your sporting ability. Our focus is on mentoring your intellectual, personal and physical performance, so you can balance sporting achievement with effective life skills that mean you contribute to growing the future.
We offer sports scholarships in:
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Netball
- Rowing
- Rugby
- Elite level athletes in other sports (eg. athletics, cycling, sailing).
A sports scholarship will cultivate your mental and physical ability, accountability, self-discipline, consistency and how you absorb and respond to advice from a range of sources.
You'll work closely with mental conditioning coaches, nutritionists, physiotherapists and sports conditioning experts as well as specialist sports skill technicians. You’ll also be a member of the Athlete Friendly Tertiary Network created by High Performance Sport New Zealand.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Provide evidence of your achievements in your chosen sport covering the past three years
- List your highest representative achievement
- Have the potential to perform and be selected at representative level
- Provide a reference from your coach and your school.
We’ll also consider applications from referees, umpires, coaches and sports administrators.
If you are offered a conditional scholarship, you must achieve NCEA Level 3 plus University Entrance.
Scholarship value: Up to $6,000 towards tuition fees or accommodation costs in your first year of study. You’re able to re-apply in subsequent years of study.
Applications close 15 August.
Our Doctoral Scholarship is one of the most prestigious postgraduate scholarships in Aotearoa New Zealand.
It will help you to further expand your knowledge and potential through PhD study and research, and is awarded purely on your academic ability and study achievements to date.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Have gained entrance into the Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
- Be new to the Lincoln University Doctoral Programme at the start of the first semester following the award of your scholarship
- Have registered for the Lincoln Doctoral Programme no more than six months before the application close date.
Scholarship value: $28,000 annually for a maximum of three years, paid in fortnightly instalments, plus tuition fees.
Applications close 1 October.
Māori and Pasifika Scholarships
We offer eight other scholarships specifically for Māori and Pasifika students. These have an equivalent value of at least $5000. Full details on each of these, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, can be found here.
In addition to flagship scholarships, we also offer a limited number of scholarships to assist you in specific circumstances, for studying specific programmes or to nurture higher academic results. These scholarships vary in value.
